Electoral Roll

Lord Rogan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What percentage of the population in Northern Ireland have been excluded from the electoral register on the grounds of being incapable of voting; and how this compares with England, Scotland and Wales.

Baroness Amos: This issue is an operational matter and is the responsibility of the Chief Electoral Officer. He will reply to the noble Lord direct. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

North/South Implementation Bodies

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the procedure for appointing a replacement chairman for a cross-border implementation body following the resignation of the chairman.

Baroness Amos: Under the Implementation Bodies Agreement of 8 March 1999 made between the British and Irish Governments, it is for the North/South Ministerial Council to make the appointment to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of the chairperson of a North/South implementation body.
	During suspension, such decisions are taken by the British and Irish Governments under the agreement made between the two governments on 19 November 2002.

Cross-Border Issues

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Who are the political advisers to whom all cross-border issues are referred currently by the North/South Ministerial Council.

Baroness Amos: Cross-border issues are not referred to political advisers by the North/South Ministerial Council.

North/South Ministerial Council: Official Languages Act 2003

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What advice the North/South Ministerial Council gave to the Eire Government about the Official Languages Act 2003; whether it obtained legal advice; and if so what that advice was.

Baroness Amos: The North/South Ministerial Council did not give any advice to the Irish Government about the Official Languages Act 2003. Information on whether legal advice was sought and, if it was, on its content, is exempt from disclosure under paragraphs 2 and 3 of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the role of the Director of Culture at the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure; and how the department defines culture.

Baroness Amos: The "Director of Culture" is the title given to the Grade 5 manager in the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure who has responsibility for the following divisions: linguistic diversity; arts; libraries.
	No specific definition of culture was used in the titling of this post.

Northern Ireland: Childcare Strategy Review

Baroness Blood: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they intend to carry out a formal review of the Northern Ireland childcare strategy "Children First".

Baroness Amos: As responsibility for childcare in Northern Ireland is currently shared by the Departments of Education, Health, Social Services and Public Safety and Employment and Learning, a small inter-departmental working group has been established to draw up proposals for carrying out a review of Children First.
	Once the proposals have been agreed, it would then be the intention to carry out a formal review of the Children First strategy.

Student Support: Postgraduate Students

Lord Freyberg: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much it would cost to extend the student loans scheme to (a) full time postgraduate students; (b) part-time postgraduate students; and (c) both full and part-time postgraduate students.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: We have not estimated the cost of extending student support to postgraduate students. The costs would depend on the level of support to be made available but would be substantial.

Harrier GR7/9

Lord Elton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Answer by the Lord Bach on 6 April (HL Deb, col. 1722) that "the GR7/9 Harrier that will be on the aircraft carriers will be sufficient, as far as air cover is concerned, until the Joint Strike Fighter comes along", how this is compatible with the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 5 April (WA 198), which stated that the principal roles of this aircraft are ground attack and reconnaissance, not air defence, and that the missiles it carried were for self-defence.

Lord Bach: As I stated in my Answer to Lord Lyell, during the debate on 6 April, "the GR7/9 is not an air defence aircraft" (Official Report, col. 1722) and therefore would not provide air defence to the fleet.
	Air defence of the fleet is structured in a series of layers. These layers are currently provided by platforms such as Type 42 Anti-Air Warfare Destroyers armed with Sea Dart missiles. This capability will be gradually replaced by the new Type 45 Anti-Air Warfare Destroyers, equipped with the Principal Anti-Air Missile System, the first of which is already under construction. These systems will provide an appropriate level of air defence prior to Joint Combat Aircraft entering service (currently planned for 2012).

Fast Jet Flying Hours

Lord Craig of Radley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many monthly flying hours are being programmed for aircrew in operational fast jet formations in this financial year; and what were the monthly flying hours achieved in these formations in the previous two financial years.

Lord Bach: The tables below show the total monthly operational fast jet flying hours, by aircraft type, for financial years 2002–03 and 2003–04. Programmed hours for this financial year have not yet been announced as the Ministry of Defence has yet to complete its annual budgetary cycle.
	
		Front-line fast jet flying hours for financial year 2002–03
		
			  April May June July August September October November December January February March Total 
			 Tornado GR4 1,474 1,773 1,759 1,631 1,602 1,784 1,862 1,610 1,387 1,681 1,757 2,437 20,757 
			 Jaguar 792 910 810 788 793 882 919 740 487 631 758 653 9,163 
			 Tornado F3 1,209 1,541 1,166 1,390 1,267 1,402 1,405 1,417 1,197 1,365 1,207 1,947 16,514 
			 Sea Harrier No data No data No data No data 175 342 412 276 146 306 322 275 2,254 
			 Harrier GR7 890 831 812 938 655 813 1,138 847 585 790 621 1,342 10,262 
			  58,950 
		
	
	Percentage of flown hours against the programmed plan was approximately 98 per cent.
	
		Front-line fast jet flying hours for financial year 2003–04
		
			  April May June July August September October November December January February March Total 
			 Tornado GR4 2,644 1,507 2,117 2,238 1,553 1,941 2,134 1,666 1,333 1,751 1,817 2,085 22,782 
			 Jaguar 707 571 720 846 775 721 758 678 389 651 780 760 8,355 
			 Tornado F3 1,215 1,210 1,682 1,438 1,208 1,536 1,425 1,075 787 1,454 1,750 1,793 16,573 
			 Sea Harrier 203 362 363 435 199 314 347 289 161 247 260 268 3,448 
			 Harrier GR7 1,669 495 1,076 905 646 747 955 694 467 810 692 891 10,047 
			  61,205 
		
	
	Percentage of flown hours against the programmed plan was approximately 99.6 per cent.
	Please note: These figures do not include Tornado F3 flying hours in the Falkland Islands.

Iraq: Depleted Uranium Contamination

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 14 January (WA 87-88), how many personnel have been offered both the uranium and the follow-up isotope tests from the outset; and how many have taken up the offer.

Lord Bach: So far it has been possible to offer both types of test routinely to all Op TELIC UK armed forces personnel. Forty-five personnel have been identified as carrying out activities in which there may have been a significant risk of exposure to depleted uranium. At least 70 per cent of these have been reminded post-conflict of their eligibility for the tests, and around 40 per cent have undertaken a test. Efforts continue to be made to remind the remainder of this group about the tests.

MoD: Computer Virus Incidents

Lord Harris of Haringey: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Ministry of Defence, its agencies, or any of the armed services have been the victim of attacks by the MyDoom, Netsky and Sobig programs or by any other malicious programs over the last three years; and, if so:
	(a) which organisations were affected;
	(b) how many computer or communications systems were involved;
	(c) how long it took to remove the malicious programs from the affected systems and restore them to normal operation; and
	(d) what was the resultant degradation to the United Kingdom's military readiness .

Lord Bach: Centralised Ministry of Defence records have only been available since 3 May 2002; prior to that date, individual MoD units reported such incidents directly to the cross-government unified incident reporting and alert scheme (UNIRAS). Since 3 May 2002, a total of 71 instances have been recorded of viruses and malicious programs including two of MyDoom, five of Netsky and one of Sobig. Records show that these were detected and the infection contained within a single or closely related group of sites.
	The MoD organisations affected are shown as follows:
	
		
			 MoD Organisation No of Incidents 
			 MoD Centre 4 
			 Defence Procurement Agency 3 
			 Defence Logistics Organisation 2 
			 Permanent Joint Headquarters One standalone Internet machine 
			 Army 18 (including six standalone) 
			 Royal Navy 14 (including three standalone) 
			 Royal Air Force 19 (including six standalone) 
			 Other Agencies 10 (including five standalone) 
		
	
	The total number of computer or communications systems involved amounted to 112.
	The time taken to remove the malicious programs from the affected systems and restore them to normal operation ranged from hours to typically two to three days. In the case of the LOVGATE virus, complete restoration to normal operation, involving isolation and cleansing of the virus from over 4,000 workstations across some 30 sites, took four weeks.
	There has been no recorded degradation to UK military readiness; the systems affected by the LOVGATE virus did not have a direct impact on operational networks. Analysis of the incidents recorded indicates that over one-third involved standalone computers or training systems. The MoD system and network infrastructure is continually monitored with defence in depth at key points to prevent cross-infection.

Civil Contingency Reaction Forces

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the current availability and strength of the 14 civil contingency reaction forces; and
	Which units provide the headquarters of the 14 civil contingency reaction forces; and
	What additional training is given to reservists to qualify them for duty in the 14 civil contingency reaction forces; and
	How many additional man-training days by service will be made available to the reserve forces for initial and continuation civil contingency training in the training year 2004–05; and
	What are the forthcoming exercises between the civil contingency reaction forces and relevant civilian authorities and agencies.

Lord Bach: All 14 Civil Contingency Reaction Forces (CCRF) have around 500 members. The MoD can mobilise CCRFs within 24 hours of a request to do so. Regional headquarters providing immediate command and control are located at:
	
		
			  Location 
			 2 South East Bde Shorncliffe 
			 49 East of England Bde Chilwell 
			 145 Home Counties Bde Aldershot 
			 43 Wessex Bde Bulford 
			 143 West Midlands Bde Shrewsbury 
			 160 Wales Bde Brecon 
			 15 North East Bde (N) York 
			 15 North East Bde (S) "  " 
			 42 North West Bde (N) Preston 
			 42 North West Bde (S) "  " 
			 51 Scottish Bde(Highland) Stirling 
			 51 Scottish Bde(Lowland) "" 
			 London Regt London 
			 Northern Ireland Ballymena 
		
	
	CCRF volunteers receive five days' training per year over and above their normal reservist training. In addition, all reservists receive at least two days' training to familiarise them with civil contingency tasks and the civil authorities. The Armed Forces, including CCRFs, are also engaged in a wide range of exercises with the civil authorities at local, regional and national level.
	CCRFs are just one of the ways in which the Armed Forces can support the civil authorities. Their role, if needed, would be to provide general duties support to the civil authorities, which could include reconnaissance, assistance with mass casualties, transport, and operating feeding and water points.

Community Punishment Orders

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal, on 11 March (WA 190) whether they will give a breakdown of the figure of £706, being the average cost of supervising and administering 40 hours of community service.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The unit cost of a 40 hour Community Punishment Order will vary according to a number of factors. These include:
	the type of work undertaken and the distance involved in attending or supervising a placement;
	whether the offender undertakes in the course of their order extra activities designed to improve their employment-related skills;
	whether the offender complies with an order or breaches it incurring the additional costs of a court appearance;
	local arrangements for staffing and supervision of offenders.
	However, a costing exercise undertaken in 2002–03 with local probation boards indicated that the average length of an order is 116.5 hours and the average cost £2,005. The average cost of a 40 hour order—the shortest possible—is £706.
	The cost of such an order can be broken down into staffing costs and scheme delivery costs.
	
		
			  £ per average order £ per 40-hour order 
			 Staffing costs 1,020 350 
			 Scheme delivery costs 1 1,035 355 
			 Total costs 2,055 706 
		
	
	1 Scheme delivery costs include provision of transport and equipment for work placements; staff training to ensure that the delivery of the enhanced community punishment scheme is of high quality and the tutoring of offenders in key skills as a means of increasing their employability, thereby reducing the likelihood of them reoffending.

Female Genital Mutilation

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What means they are using to ensure that the new criminal offence of taking a girl to another country for the purposes of genital mutilation is made known as widely as possible in this country.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Home Office has issued a circular about the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 to police forces and others in the criminal justice system; the Department of Health has placed articles about it in medical publications which will reach doctors and midwives throughout the country; and the Department for Education and Skills has issued guidance to social services.
	The Government are also funding some of the voluntary organisations that are active in seeking to eradicate female genital mutilation in this country specifically to take forward a programme of awareness-raising activities about the Act in the practising communities. One of the organisations concerned, the Agency for Culture and Change Management, has organised some conferences to promote the Act at which myself and my honourable friend Paul Goggins will be speaking.

EU Passengers and Passport Checks: 16 April 2004

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Who took the decision to allow European Union passengers arriving at London Stansted airport between 23.00 hours and midnight on Friday 16 April to pass through immigration without physical inspection of their passports; and on what basis this decision was authorised.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The immigration Service has issued guidance to staff about how the EEA/Swiss control is to be managed at ports and airports, including guidance on the routine handling and examination of documents. The Duty Chief Immigration Officer is responsible for assessing operational constraints and local intelligence in implementing this guidance at ports.
	Managers assessed the operational constraints on the evening of 16 April because exceptionally large numbers of travellers returning to the United Kingdom after the Easter break coincided with building work being undertaken in the arrivals hall at Stansted. In combination these factors presented serious risks to the health and safety of both passengers and staff and the possibility of public order difficulties. Therefore exceptional measures to control the situation and ensure the safety of the public were put in place, and normal operations resumed shortly after midnight when the number of arriving passengers diminished.
	During the time in question there was a physical inspection of some documents, decisions on whether to do so or not being taken on the basis of an appraisal of the particular traffic in the arrivals hall at the time.

Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis: Investigation into Death of Diana, Princess of Wales

Lord Fyfe of Fairfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether it is an appropriate use of police resources for the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police to conduct an investigation into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales; and whether this will divert resources from the prevention of terrorism in the United Kingdom.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Operational decisions by the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis on the deployment of allocated resources in response to the request by the Coroner of the Queen's Household are a matter for him.
	Following the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Al-Fayed, the Metropolitan Police Service has assisted the coroner to prepare for his inquiries into the deaths. At the opening of the inquest on Diana, Princess of Wales, on 6 January, Mr Michael Burgess, who is both Coroner of the Queen's Household and the Surrey Coroner, requested that the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police look into allegations that the circumstances of the deaths were not as a result of a tragic accident. The commissioner subsequently established a small team who are tasked to assist the coroner in reviewing the information available from the French inquiry. This also includes carrying out further inquiries to ascertain if there is any credible evidence to support the allegations that have been made.
	The team is working in close co-operation with the French authorities throughout the inquiries being undertaken. This was reinforced through the commissioner's recent visit to Paris. It is wholly appropriate for police resources to be used in providing the coroner with information that will enable him to fulfil his responsibilities. The police service provides such services on a regular basis to coroners throughout the country.
	We recognise the current high threat from international terrorism. That is why we are providing the Metropolitan Police Authority this year with £61 million specifically to counter this threat. The resources being used to support the coroner are not being diverted from any counter-terrorism activity.

Juveniles in Custody:Use of Physical Restraint

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many children were injured during the use of control and restraint procedures in penal institutions during 2003.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Statistical information on injuries is not collected centrally, but the Youth Justice Board has been reviewing the use of physical restraint procedures and the National Children's Bureau recently produced a report for the board on the use of physical intervention within the juvenile secure estate. The board is currently drawing up a code of practice on the use of physical restraint, which it is intended will apply in all establishments holding young people under 18. The board is also planning to review the techniques that are used in establishments, in the light of the tragic death of Gareth Myatt at Rainsbrook on 19 April.

Juveniles in Custody:Use of Physical Restraint

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How often the Prison Service reviews the use of restraint techniques and solitary confinement for children in penal institutions.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Prison Service has recently been reviewing its restraint and separation policies and procedures for juveniles in its custody. It is developing new restraint techniques, and will test and evaluate them and take account of wider Youth Justice Board work on juvenile restraint techniques before deciding whether to introduce them across the Prison Service juvenile estate.
	Separation is used as a last resort, when all other methods have been exhausted. The latest guidance is in a new Prison Service Order (PSO 1700), which came into force in November 2003. The aim is to provide any young person who needs to be separated with appropriate interventions that will enable him or her to return to normal accommodation as soon as possible.

Prisons and Immigration Detention Centres in Private Ownership or Operation

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which prisons and Immigration Act detention or removal centres are respectively owned or operated by private contractors; and what is their policy on the ownership and management of such establishments.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The operation and ownership of prisons and immigration detention centres by private contractors is set out in the table.
	
		
			 Establishment Operator Contractor Owner(s) 
			 Immigration Detention Centre
			 Campsfield House Global Solutions Ltd Global Solutions Ltd Group 4 Falck 
			 Colnbrook Premier Detention Services Ltd Premier Detention Services Ltd Serco Group plc 
			 Dungavel Premier Detention Services Ltd Premier Detention Services Ltd Serco Group plc 
			 Hardmondsworth UK Detention Services Harmondsworth Detention Services Ltd Sodexho UK 
			 Oakington Global Solutions Ltd Global Solutions Ltd Group 4 Falck 
			 Tinsley House Global Solutions Ltd Global Solutions Ltd Group 4 Falck 
			 Yarl's Wood Global Solutions Ltd Group 4 Amey Immigration Ltd Amey Assets Services Ltd 
			Group 4 Falck 
			 Prison1
			 Altcourse Global Solutions Ltd Fazakerley Prison Services Ltd Group 4 Falck 
			 Carillion plc 
			 Ashfield Premier Prison Services Ltd Pucklechurch Custodial Services Ltd Serco Group plc 
			 Bronzefield UK Detention Services Ashford Prison Services Ltd Sodexho UK (owner of UKDS) 
			Royal Bank of Scotland 
			Interserve Project Services Ltd 
			 Doncaster Premier Prison Services Ltd Premier Custodial Group Ltd Serco Group plc 
			 Dovegate Premier Prison Services Ltd Moreton Prison Services Ltd Serco Group plc 
			 Forest Bank UK Detention Services Agecraft Prison Management Ltd Sodexho UK (owner of UKDS) 
			 Abbey National plc 
			 Lowdham Grange Premier Prison Services Ltd Lowdham Grange Prison Services Ltd Serco Group plc 
			 Parc Securicor Justices Services Ltd Bridgend Custodial Services Ltd Securicor Justice Services Ltd 
			Innisfree 
			Skanska UK 
			Costain Group plc 
			 Peterborough UK Detention Services Peterborough Prison Management Ltd Sodexho (owner of UKDS) 
			Royal Bank of Scotland 
			Interserve Project Services Ltd 
			 Rye Hill Global Solutions Ltd Onley Prison Services Ltd Group 4 Falck Carillion plc 
			 Wolds Global Solutions Ltd Global Solutions Ltd Group 4 Falck 
		
	
	1 The table does not include the private sector prison at Kilmarnock managed by the Scottish Executive.
	Contractors are required to manage these establishments according to the contract. The ownership of prospective bidders is fully investigated before tender documents are issued. The Home Secretary's consent is required for any significant change in the ownership of the contractor or operator.

Bulgaria, Moldova and Romania: Seasonal Agricultural Workers and Visas

Lord Carter: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What arrangements are being made to help farmers and growers find replacements for 1,200 students from Bulgaria, Moldova and Romania who have been issued work permits to harvest fruit and vegetables in May and June but who cannot now obtain visas owing to the suspension of visa services until further notice.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Government recognise the difficulties caused to some farmers and growers by the suspension of visa services in Bulgaria and Romania. However, farmers and growers are still, as well as being able to recruit from within the existing UK labour market, able to recruit students from other countries under the seasonal agricultural workers scheme, and nationals from the new EU member states can now undertake work here without prior permission, provided they register with the worker registration scheme.
	The organisations that operate the seasonal agricultural workers scheme under contract to the Home Office have been provided advice should they want to pursue these options.

Criminal Justice Interventions Programme

Lord Adebowale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	(a) What total funding allocation for the Criminal Justice Interventions Programme in England and Wales has been made available for each year that figures are available; and (b) what is the expected funding for the years 2004–05 and 2005–06.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Criminal Justice Interventions Programme was launched in April 2003 and is due to run for three years. It is backed by a significant funding to help national and local partners play their part. Below are the estimated annual funding figures for the programme:
	Criminal Justice Interventions Programme: funding (£million)
	
		
			 Year  
			 2003–041 55 
			 2004–052 188 
			 2005–063 250 
		
	
	1 Estimated out-turn.
	2 Estimated figure.
	3 Provisional allocation.
	This does not include some of the resources used by local partnerships to assist in delivering the programme.

Drug Treatment: Funding

Lord Adebowale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	(a) What total funding allocation for drug treatment in England and Wales has been made available for each year that figures are available; and (b) what is the expected funding for the years 2004–05 and 2005–06.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The drug pooled treatment budget for 2003–04 is £236 million. The pooled treatment budget is matched by an estimated additional £200 million of local monies from primary care trusts and local authority mainstream funds.
	The drug pooled treatment budget allocation for 2004–05 will be £253 million and for 2005–06 will be £299 million. These funds will continue to be matched by mainstream funds from primary care trusts and local authorities.

Drug Treatment: Funding

Lord Adebowale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	(a) What funding allocation for drug treatment and testing orders in England and Wales has been made available for each year since the scheme was introduced; and (b) what is the expected funding for the years 2004–05 and 2005–06.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The funding allocation for drug treatment and testing orders in previous years is:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2000–01 18.0 
			 2001–02 36.0 
			 2002–03 36.0 
			 2003–04 54.0 
		
	
	The funding in 2004–05 is £72 million. No decisions have yet been taken regarding the level of funding for 2005–06.

Drug Treatment: Funding

Lord Adebowale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are, in respect of each drug action team, for the years 2002–03, 2003–04 and 2004–05:
	(a) the amount of funding allocated for drug treatment as part of the drug action team pooled treatment budget; and
	(b) the amount of funding allocated for drug treatment and testing orders as part of the drug action team pooled treatment budget.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The drug pooled treatment budget allocation is as follows:
	2002–03: £195.7 million
	2003–04: £236 million
	2004–05: £253 million
	The allocation for each drug action team (DAT) can be found on the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse website (www.nta.nhs.uk).
	Part of the drug treatment and testing order (DTTO) budget is transferred into the pooled treatment budget to contribute towards the costs of delivering all treatment under DTTOs. The funds agreed for transfer are:
	2002–03: £20 million
	2003–04: £29.7 million
	2004–05: £42 million
	At local level DATs are not given a specified DTTO figure within their pooled treatment budgets.

Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002: Section 55

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many asylum seekers have been denied support under Section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002; of these, how many remained in the United Kingdom; and where those who have remained in the United Kingdom have found accommodation.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 came into force on 8 January 2003, restricting the availability of NASS support to those asylum seekers who make asylum application as soon as reasonably practicable.
	Figures in respect of asylum seekers refused support under Section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 in 2003 for each quarter are:
	
		
			  Number of cases refused support under Section 55 of the NIA Act 2002 
			 Quarter 1 2003 2,850 
			 Quarter 2 2003 1,830 
			 Quarter 3 2003 2,810 
			 Quarter 4 2003 1,925 
		
	
	Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	Data on those that remained in the UK, having been refused support under Section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, and where those who remained found accommodation, are not available.
	Information on the number of asylum seekers supported by NASS is published quarterly. The next publication covering the first quarter of 2004 (January to March) will be available on 25 May on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002: Section 55

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there is a link between Section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 and the recent reduction in asylum applications; and, if so, what evidence there is for such a link.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Section 55 is part of a wider package of measures contained in the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 aimed at tackling asylum abuse and creating a more streamlined and cohesive asylum system. It is the package as a whole that delivered the reduction in intake and it is not, therefore, possible to identify the specific contribution made by Section 55.

Asylum Applications

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many asylum applications made before 1 January 2000 have yet to receive a substantive reply.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The requested information is unavailable and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records. The total number of cases awaiting an initial decision fell to 24,500 by the end of December 2003, the lowest level for more than a decade and continuing to fall.
	Information on the number of asylum applications awaiting an initial decision is published quarterly on the Home Office website at http://www. homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html. The next publication will be available from 25 May 2004 and will cover the first quarter of 2004 (January to March).

Asylum Applications

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have statistical evidence to demonstrate whether or not in-country asylum applications are less likely to have a genuine claim to asylum than those who apply at the point of entry.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The table shows the percentage of grants of asylum made on initial decisions, for port and in-country applications for the past five years. The table provides no evidence to suggest that the proportion granted refugee status is significantly different between port and in-country cases. Cases are decided on their individual merits not on the location at which a claim is made, and any differences may reflect other factors such as a different mix of nationalities applying at port or in country.
	
		Cases 1   2 recognised as refugees and granted asylum, excluding dependants, 1999 to 2003 -- Principal applicants
		
			  Port cases initial decisions Port cases Grants of asylum Per cent Port cases Grants of asylum In country cases initial decisions In country cases Grants of asylum Per cent in country cases Grants of asylum 
			 1999 17,335 3,565 21 16,385 4,250 26 
			 2000 52,775 5,475 10 56,435 4,900 9 
			 2001 39,475 3,805 10 81,470 7,640 9 
			 2002(R)(P) 27,645 2,910 11 55,895 5,365 10 
			 2003(P) 19,275 920 5 45,330 2,960 7 
		
	
	1 Figures rounded to nearest 5, with '*' = 1 or 2.
	2 Information is of initial determination decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.
	(P)Provisional figures.
	(R)Revised figures.
	Information on asylum applications and initial decisions is published quarterly. The next publication covering the second quarter of 2004 will be available on 25 May 2004 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Motorcycle Braking Systems

Viscount Simon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress is being made with the introduction and training of motorcyclists in the use of anti-skid braking systems.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Many manufacturers already fit anti-lock braking systems to motorcycles, although there is no legal requirement to do so. Systems have been fitted to larger and more expensive machines for several years and are now appearing on some smaller and cheaper machines. Some manufacturers also fit a combined braking system, which may include an anti-lock function.
	The Vehicle Safety and Security Task Force of the Advisory Group on Motorcycling has discussed advanced braking systems. The task force's report is expected to encourage the fitment of advanced braking systems (including ABS) and that manufacturers and retailers provide advice to purchasers on the operation and use of the systems.
	The Driving Standards Agency's publication for learner and qualified motorcyclists, Motorcycle riding—the essential skills, advises riders to refer to the owner's handbook for details of the manufacturer's recommended method of using ABS, because operating modes vary from one manufacturer or machine to another.
	Training in the use of ABS is available through various motorcycle training organisations, as well as road safety organisations such as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and the Institute of Advanced Motorists.

Bus Services: Quality Control Schemes

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Given the current consultation on the time taken to implement bus service quality contract schemes, what plans they have to consult on the removal of the "practicable" test currently required by Section 124(1)(a) of the Transport Act 2000; and what plans they have to introduce a provision for pilot schemes for quality contract schemes in passenger transport executive areas.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Government have no plans to consult on removing the requirement under the Transport Act 2000 that a quality contract scheme may only be implemented where it represents "the only practicable way" for a local authority to implement its bus strategy.
	The Government are taking steps to improve the potential effectiveness of the bus quality contract provisions in the Transport Act 2000. We have consulted on a proposal to reduce the 21-month implementation period. We are currently considering responses. We are also preparing guidance on preparing quality contract schemes.
	If a passenger transport executive wishes to introduce a quality contract and believes it meets the criteria, it may apply to do so.

Government Departments: Annual Reports

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are content that annual reports by government departments are issued more than 12 months after the last complete financial year to which they relate.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Annual departmental reports are issued in spring and soon after the Budget, and bring together recent outturn data, alongside estimated outturn for the year just ending. Departmental accounts, providing audited information on financial performance, are published separately within 10 months after the financial year to which they relate.

International Cricket: Zimbabwe Tour

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will arrange to meet the International Cricket Council to discuss the proposed cricket tour by England of Zimbabwe.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Government have no plans to talk to the International Cricket Council about the proposed cricket tour by England of Zimbabwe. This is a matter between the ICC and the England and Wales Cricket Board.

United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What will be their contribution this year to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan for security during the elections and registration process.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The death of two British nationals working to support the election registration process underlines the importance of security for the registration and election processes. We are working with the UN, coalition partners and NATO to consider how the international community can best support the Afghan Government in delivering this.
	In addition, the UK has supported election security through our contribution to European Commission (EC) funding of the UN-administered Law and Order Trust Fund (LOFTA). Last year the EC provided 50 million euros to LOTFA, of which the UK contributed 19 per cent; and LOTFA provided £12.3 million towards security for voter registration and the elections themselves.
	More generally, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) is leading international support for preparations for elections. So far this financial year the Department for International Development has pledged £2.8 million to UNAMA for the elections. Last financial year the UK contributed over £10.4 million to electoral registration in Afghanistan. The UK is currently considering the budget submitted by UNAMA for the cost of the elections themselves.

Cyprus: Green Line

Lord Monson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, from 1 May onwards, United Kingdom passport holders have the unrestricted right to cross and re-cross the Cyprus "green line" in either direction at approved crossing points, provided they are carrying a valid passport.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: On 28 April, the EU agreed a new regulation to govern the green line in Cyprus. The regulation established special rules concerning the crossing of goods, services and persons, in order to take account of the fact that the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control in the whole of the island.
	The regulation states "it is necessary to enable EU citizens to exercise their rights of free movement within the EU and set the minimum rules for carrying out checks on persons at the line and to ensure the effective surveillance of it."
	Since 1 May, the Government of Cyprus have allowed the free movement of EU citizens across the green line, in either direction. I urge them to do so unhindered.

China: Seasonal Agricultural Workers and Visas

Lord Carter: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the visa desk in Beijing, China, refused applications from 450 students due to come to the United Kingdom under the seasonal agricultural workers scheme.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Between 1 January 2003 and 7 May 2004 our embassy in Beijing refused applications from 91 people seeking to enter the UK under the seasonal agricultural workers scheme. These applications were refused as they failed to satisfy the relevant requirements of the immigration rules.

Disabled Persons: Housing

Lord Dubs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their policy on housing for disabled persons who are ineligible for social housing.

Lord Rooker: The Government recognise the importance of providing appropriate housing for people with disabilities. That is why we are taking action in a variety of ways to increase the supply of accessible housing.
	All newly built homes are required to comply with Part M of the building regulations. These provisions are expected to enable occupants to cope better with reducing mobility and to live longer in their own homes.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister also announced earlier this year that we will carry out a further review of Part M, with the aim of incorporating lifetime home standards for accessibility into the building regulations.
	Our reform of the planning system is also seeking to address issues of access and inclusion. The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill includes requirements for access statements to be drawn up to support planning applications in appropriate circumstances. Also, the Bill introduces a statutory requirement for those responsible for preparing regional spatial strategies and local development documents in England to undertake these functions with the objective of contributing to the achievement of sustainable development. Our consultation draft of planning policy statement 1 (PPS1) makes it crystal clear that development plans should contain clear and comprehensive inclusive access policies.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not only taking action to improve accessibility in relation to new developments. We have also substantially increased government resources available to fund adaptations to the existing housing stock to meet the needs of disabled people.
	The disabled facilities grants programme provides funding for local authorities to help disabled homeowners and tenants to pay for essential adaptations to their homes. Since 1997, government funding for disabled facilities grants has nearly doubled, rising to £100 million a year. This year, over 33,000 homes will be adapted to meet the needs of disabled people through the programme—a 50 per cent increase on 1997–98.

Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order

Lord Brookman: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they intend to lay the proposed Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order before Parliament.

Lord Rooker: A proposal in the form of a draft regulatory reform order was laid before Parliament under Section 6(1) of the Regulatory Reform Act 2001 on Monday 10 May 2004.

Pesticides

Lord Rotherwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What pesticides are being used for weeds around roads and railways now that atrazine has been withdrawn.

Lord Whitty: A wide variety of approved pesticides may be used on and around roads and railways, including products approved for use on hard surfaces, amenity vegetation and amenity grassland.
	These products contain a variety of active substances, including 2,4-D; asulam; bifenox; bromoxynil; citronella oil; clopyralid; dicamba; dichlorprop-P; diquat; ethofumesate; ferrous sulphate; fluroxypyr; glufosinate-ammonium; ioxynil; isoxaben; MCPA; mecoprop-P; paraquat; triclopyr; carbetamide; chlorthal-dimethyl; dichlobenil; diflufenican; diuron; glyphosate; lenacil; metazachlor; oxadiazon; pentanochlor; propachlor; propyzamide; trifluralin; amitrole; dichlorophen; sodium chlorate; picloram and amitrole/aminotriazole.
	Products containing a further active substance, simazine, have been the subject of an EC-wide review which has concluded that approval for sale and supply should be revoked. However products may continue to be used until the end of September 2005.
	The specific choices of pesticides to use on or around roads or railways are operational matters for the Highways Agency, local authorities and Network Rail.

Food Industry: Salt, Fat and Sugar Reduction

Viscount Simon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they intend to repeat their demands to the food and retail industry on salt reduction and for that industry to come forward with proposals and a timeframe for reducing fat and sugar levels in foods.

Lord Warner: Ministers are in discussion with all of the main food industry sectors on salt reduction plans and arrangements to report progress on them. The consultation Choosing Health? Choosing a Better Diet asks for views on the role that industry can play in tackling salt, fat and sugar in the diet. The White Paper to be published in the summer will address these issues. The Food Standards Agency is also currently consulting on the promotion of foods to children.

Research for Patient Benefit Working Party

Baroness Finlay of Llandaff: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they plan to take forward the recommendation from Sir John Pattison's working group on research for patients' benefits.

Lord Warner: The final report of the Research for Patient Benefit Working Party chaired by Sir John Pattison will be published shortly on the Department of Health's website. The report will make a range of recommendations for the strengthening of clinical research in the United Kingdom. In March the Secretary of State for Health announced additional funding for National Health Service research and development of £25 million each year for the next four years and the creation of a new UK clinical research collaboration involving patients, the NHS, the Medical Research Council, the Wellcome Trust, the medical charities and industry. A further announcement will be made following publication of the report.

National Health Service Bank

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to implement the plans for the establishment of a National Health Service Bank in the form announced by the Secretary of State for Health on 15 May 2002; and, if not, what elements in that announcement will not be implemented; and
	Whether they have any plans to develop the National Health Service Bank beyond its role as described in Appendix 3 to the report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on the National Health Service (England) Summarised Accounts 2002–03.

Lord Warner: The form and function of the National Health Service Bank is broadly in line with that announced by the Secretary of State for Health on 15 May 2002. It has been established as a mutual organisation with a management board drawn from strategic health authority chief executives and directors of finance to perform the following functions:
	It administers the special assistance fund providing grants to strategic health authority areas with particular and exceptional financial difficulties. The NHS Bank makes recommendations to the Department of Health on the allocation of funds and monitors progress of the organisations receiving funds against their performance improvement plans.
	It facilitates the redistribution of capital funds across strategic health authority areas to better match the timing of different capital investment programmes.
	It manages the programme of cash brokerage to provide cash flexibility across the NHS.
	It administers and manages the budget for funding of impairments of fixed assets on behalf of the department.
	The department is currently in discussions with the NHS Bank about the refinement and further development of its current role.

Older People: Falls and Osteoporosis

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What guidance has been issued to primary care trusts by the Department of Health on the essential features of a fully integrated falls and osteoporosis service.

Lord Warner: The national service framework for older people set out a service model detailing the essential features of an integrated falls service; this included appropriate links to osteoporosis.
	Two evidence-based supporting documents have been published: How can we help older people not fall again? Implementing the older people's NSF falls standard—Support for commissioning good falls services; of September 2003, and Making the case for investing in falls and fractures prevention—A workbook of ideas, of February 2004. Copies are available in the Library. Cascaded training of their use was offered to all local health and social care communities.
	The Department of Health asked the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to develop separate but linked clinical guidelines on the prevention of falls and the prevention of osteoporosis. These are due for publication in September 2004 and 2005 respectively.
	Other national actions have included developing and sharing practice through the National Falls Collaborative and Healthy Communities Collaborative on falls, and continuing to work closely with and supporting publications through Help the Aged's Slips and Trips campaign, at http://www.helptheaged.org.uk/adviceinfo/–slips+ and+trips+for+practitioners.htm.